How to Greet in Islam
Greeting non-Muslims with salaam
In Islam, greeting non-Muslims with salaaam is considered an honor. However, a non-Muslim may not think the same way. They might use other greetings instead, such as “good morning” or “good evening,” or something else that is more appropriate in their culture. In this case, Muslims should be wary of initiating the salutation.
The Prophet himself used the greeting “Wa alaykum assalaam” when greeting non-Muslims. However, it is permissible for Muslims to initiate greetings if they are in a dire need. Nonetheless, Muslims should make every effort to greet non-Muslims with salaam whenever possible.
Some Islamic scholars disagree about the practice of addressing non-Muslims with salaah. Some believe that it is forbidden, but others argue that it is permissible. Similarly, others hold that initiating salaams is an act of honor for Muslims.
The Prophet Muhammad said that harming a non-Muslim is equivalent to harming him or his religion. Hence, the companions of the Prophet were keen to observe his teachings and keep good relations with their neighbors. The Muslim greeting is a formal greeting that uses the name of God. Ideally, it should be returned in the same form and is reserved for those who can answer it. Depending on the context, non-Muslims may also be greeted with a simple “good day” or “salaam.”
Although Prophet Muhammad ordered certain individuals to greet others first, he also ordered non-Muslims to greet Muslims first. However, some Shia Muslims consider this practice a violation of the prohibition of greeting non-Muslims in Islam.
Greeting non-Muslims with barakatuhu
The Prophet Muhammad commanded us to greet non-Muslims with barakah, which translates to peace of God. This greeting can be said to non-Muslims in many different ways. One way to greet a non-Muslim is to say salaam, which is similar to the Arabic greeting of the same name. This greeting can also be said to a Muslim in Arabic-speaking countries.
Greeting non-Muslims with this greeting can be a little tricky, especially in a large city with a diverse population. However, we should try our best to follow the example of the Prophet and his mother, Aisha (r.anha). Greeting the non-Muslim with a greeting can open the door to a better interaction or halt it altogether.
If the non-Muslim initiates the greeting, the Muslims should reciprocate with a better or equal greeting. This is according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad and Ibn Kathir. The Prophet also specified what the right response should be when greeting Christians and Jews.
If you greet non-Muslims with a barakatuhu, then you should also greet them with a Salaam. This is a common greeting that pre-Islamic Arabians used to use. They used to use a variety of different greetings, but Islam replaced these with a standard greeting. It is translated as ‘peace be upon you.’ In other words, may Allah protect you from every sorrow and pain.
Greeting a non-Muslim with salaam
Greeting a non-Muslim correctly is an important part of Islam. Generally, Muslims should be the first to greet a non-Muslim, and they should always say “Salaam” or “Good morning” in return. The reason for this is clear: to honor Allah, we should greet everyone, including non-Muslims. Even if we don’t know them, we should still greet them with salaam, since Allah will reward us for greeting others.
According to the Qur’an, greeting a non-Muslim with salam is an act of honor, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that harming a non-Muslim is like harming the Prophet. Likewise, the Prophet’s companions remained careful to follow his instructions and kept good relations with non-Muslim neighbors. According to the Quran, greeting a non-Muslim should be done in the name of Allah and should always be replied with the same form.
Greeting a non-Muslim requires a little practice. Many disputes arise when Muslims disagree on the correct way to greet someone. Some believe that not returning a Salaam shows disrespect. Others feel that it is the duty of Muslims to return a non-Muslim with a better greeting.
While it’s customary to greet a non-Muslim with salam, it’s important to remember to keep the intention of the greeting as religious as possible.